Verbena plant named ‘Dandon17’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Verbena  plant named ‘Dandon17’ characterized by having semi-spread plant habit; vigorous and highly branched branching habit; wide, bright green leaves; large, single, cruciform red flowers making up a cluster with a relatively large white center; and early flowering response in spring and continuous flowering throughout summer.

Botanical designation: Verbena sp.

Varierty denomination: ‘Dandon17’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Verbena plant, botanically known as Verbena sp., hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Dandon17’.

Verbena, of the Verbenaceae family, consists of a couple hundred perennials, some of which are semi-evergreens, that are native to North and South America. The present invention relates to a new and distinct perennial cultivar of Verbena.

The new Verbena cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor, Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The objective of the breeding program was to develop a new Verbena variety with red flowers with large white centers and broad leaves.

The new Verbena cultivar originated from a cross made in September 2002, by the inventor Gabriel Danziger, in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel. The female parent is designated ‘ve-z-8’ (unpatented). The male parent is open pollination. The new Verbena cultivar ‘Dandon17’ was discovered and selected by the inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross in a controlled environment in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel.

Asexual reproduction of the new Verbena cultivar by stem cutting was first performed in April of 2003 in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, and has demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of asexual reproduction. The new cultivar reproduces true-to-type.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be unique characteristics of ‘Dandon17’ which in combination distinguish this Verbena as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Semi-spread plant habit;     -   2. Vigorous and highly branched branching habit;     -   3. Wide, bright green leaves;     -   4. Large, single, cruciform red flowers making up a cluster with         a relatively large white center; and     -   5. Early flowering response in spring and continuous flowering         throughout summer.

Plants of ‘Dandon17’ differ from plants of the maternal parent in the characteristics described in Table 1:

TABLE 1 Trait New Cultivar Female Parent Plant habit Semi - spread Bushy Flower size Large petals and Medium size petals center and small center Flowering time Late flowering Earlier flowering relative to female time

Of the many commercial cultivars known to the present inventor, the most similar in comparison to the new Verbena cultivar ‘Dandon17’ is the Verbena cultivar ‘Tukana Scarlet’ (unpatented). In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, plants of ‘Dandon17’ differed from plants of ‘Tukana Scarlet’ in the characteristics described in Table 2:

TABLE 2 Trait New Cultivar Comparison Cultivar Plant habit Semi-spread Spread Flower Color Darker red Lighter red RHS 46B RHS 46C Flower Center Larger white center Minute flower center Flower Size 24 mm diameter 20 mm diameter

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Verbena cultivar ‘Dandon17’ showing the colors as true as is reasonably possible with colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the color of the ‘Dandon17’.

The first photograph shows a side view perspective of a typical flowering ‘Dandon17’ in a hanging basket at about 3 months old.

The second photograph shows a close-up view of a typical flower cluster of ‘Dandon17’, which has about 25 flowers per the cluster, measures about 20 mm in diameter, and shows the color of the flower is dark red towards the center with a lighter hue towards the outer petals and a significant white center.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The new Verbena cultivar ‘Dandon17’ has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype of the new cultivar may vary significantly with variations in environment such as temperature, light intensity, and daylength, without any change in the genotype of the plant.

The aforementioned photographs, together with the following observations, measurements and values describe plants of the new Verbena cultivar ‘Dandon17’ as grown outdoors in Moshav Mishmar Hashiva, Israel, under conditions which closely approximate those generally used in commercial practice. The plants were grown outdoors when daytime temperatures ranged from 23-29° C. and when nighttime temperatures range from 18-25° C. The cultivar's soil mixture was given complete, balanced fertilizers at 200-250 ppm nitrogen. Starting at about 4 weeks after transplant, EC of 2.0 is optimum. The cultivar was produced in a 13 cm pot. After 9 weeks in total, the cultivar is ready for sale. The reaction time from day of induction to day of first opened flower is 7 days.

The photographs and descriptions were taken during the Autumn when outdoor day temperatures ranged from 17-23° C. and when nighttime temperatures ranged from 5-13° C. at night. The age of the plants described is 9 weeks old.

Color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart (R.H.S.), published 2001, except where general colors of ordinary significance are used.

-   Classification:     -   -   Botanical.—Verbena sp. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female or seed parent.—Verbena cultivar designated ‘ve-z-8’             (unpatented).         -   Male or pollen parent.—Bulk pollen. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—Stem cutting.         -   Time and temperature to initiate roots.—Summer: 5 to 7 days             (25-28° C.). Winter: 8 to 10 days (15-20° C.).         -   Time and temperature to produce a rooted cutting or             liner.—Summer: 14 days (25-28° C.). Winter: 18 to 20 days             (15-20° C.).         -   Rooting habit and description.—Very long and fibrous. -   Plant:     -   -   General appearance and form.—Semi spread growth, with             flowers in a cluster form, surrounded by high number of             leaves.         -   Branching habit.—Highly branched.         -   Growth habit.—Medium.         -   Growth rate.—Vigorous.         -   Plant height.—15-20 cm.         -   Plant width (spread).—60 cm. -   Lateral branches:     -   -   Length.—5-20 cm.         -   Diameter.—2 mm.         -   Internode length.—25-35 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong, firm.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Upper surface: RHS 138B, green. Lower surface: RHS             138B, green. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Whorled.         -   Overall shape of leaf.—Triangular (deltoid).         -   Shape at apex.—Sharply pointed (acute).         -   Shape at base.—Uneven.         -   Length.—30-35 mm.         -   Width.—30 mm.         -   Margin.—Scalloped (crenate).         -   Texture.—Upper surface: bullate (puberulous). Lower surface:             lustrous (puberulous).         -   Color of mature (developed) leaf.—Upper surface: RHS 147B,             yellow-green. Lower surface: RHS 146B, yellow-green.         -   Color of immature (expanding) leaf:—Upper surface: RHS 146A,             yellow-green. Lower surface: RHS 146C, yellow-green.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Venation color.—Upper surface: RHS-148D, yellow-green. Lower             surface: RHS-147B, yellow-green.         -   Petiole length.5 mm.         -   Petiole diameter.——1 mm.         -   Petiole color.—RHS 144C, yellow-green.

FLOWER

-   Description:     -   -   Flower type and habit.—Single, upright cruciform flowers             arranged in clusters. The flowers are positioned above the             foliage and are persistent.         -   Natural flowering season:—Early flowering in spring and             continuous flowering throughout summer. Season can be             extended year round as long as the temperature is relatively             high.         -   Time to flower.—7 weeks.         -   Rate of flowers opening.—About 10 flowers per week per             cluster. It depends on the age of the plant. The younger the             plant the less flowers, while an older plant products a lot             more flowers. Therefore the range is between 5 to 20             clusters per week.         -   Quantity of flowers.—About 15 to 27 per inflorescence.         -   Flower size.—Diameter: 20 mm. Throat diameter: 1.5-2 mm.             Tube diameter, at base: 1 mm. Tube length: 17 mm.         -   Post production longevity.—About 8 to 12 days.         -   Fragrance (if any).—None. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Inflorescence height.—30 mm.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—55 mm. -   Buds:     -   -   Rate of opening (from showing color to fully open             flower).—96 hours.         -   Length.—10 mm.         -   Diameter.—At Apex: 6 mm. At Base: 3 mm.         -   Shape.—Ovulate.         -   Color.—Apex: RHS 44A, red. Base: RHS 47D, red. -   Petals:     -   -   Quantity and arrangement per flower.—5, single.         -   Lobe length.—11 mm.         -   Lobe width.—7 mm.         -   Overall shape.—Cruciform.         -   Shape at apex.—Heart shaped.         -   Margin.—Smooth.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: smooth Lower surface: smooth.         -   Color of opening petals.—Upper surface: RHS 45A, red. Lower             surface: RHS 45B, red.         -   Color of fully opened petals.—Upper surface: RHS 46B, red.             Lower surface: RHS 46D, red.         -   Fading.—The color of the petals do not fade. -   Sepals:     -   -   Quantity and arrangement per flower.—1 per flower.         -   Length.—10 mm.         -   Width.—2 mm.         -   Overall shape.—Tubular.         -   Shape at apex.—Star shaped.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture.—Upper surface: pubescent. Lower surface: pubescent.         -   Color of sepals.—Upper surface: RHS 143C, green. Lower             surface: RHS 144D, green. -   Peduncles:     -   -   Appearance and angle.—Straight, similar to the stem.         -   Length.—10 mm.         -   Diameter.—2 mm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Color.—RHS 137D, green. -   Reproductive organs: -   Androecium:     -   -   Stamen quantity of per flower.—4.         -   Stamen length.—2 mm.         -   Filament color.—RHS 3D, yellow.         -   Anther shape.—Conical.         -   Anther length.—1 mm.         -   Anther color.—RHS 1B, yellow.         -   Pollen amount.—Plentiful.         -   Pollen color.—RHS 1B, yellow.         -   Requirement for pollination (if any).—None. In Israel, the             reproductive organs are receptive all year round both             indoors and outdoors. -   Gynoecium:     -   -   Pistil quantity of per flower.—1.         -   Pistil length.—15 mm.         -   Stigma shape.—Circular.         -   Stigma color.—RHS 143C, green.         -   Style length.—14 mm.         -   Style color.—RHS 154C, yellow-green.         -   Ovary color.—RHS 144C, yellow-green. -   Seeds:     -   -   Quantity.—2 to 4:         -   Length.—4 mm.         -   Diameter.—1 mm.         -   Texture.—Hairless but not smooth.         -   Color.—Greyed-orange, RHS 177A. -   Fruit: None observed. -   Disease/pest resistance: Low; none observed. -   Disease/pest susceptibility: Good, not susceptible to powdery mildew     and Alternaria in our examinations. -   Growth retardants used: None used. -   Temperature tolerance: Frost tender: temperatures below 5° C. may     damage plant. 

1. A new and distinct Verbena plant named ‘Dandon17’, substantially as illustrated and described herein. 